Report: Southern Oregon Gains Jobs, But More Unemployed

The numbers released today by Worksource Oregon reveal the same mixed report experienced at the state level. While there is a gain in jobs, the unemployment rate is also going up slightly, when comparing August to July.
Jackson County gained 550 jobs, and gains were also experienced in Josephine County, Coos and Curry counties. The news is also good in southern Oregon counties when comparing August of this year to August of last year. Nonetheless, unemployment rates remain in double digits throughout southwestern Oregon.
In Jackson County, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is 10.8 percent, compared to 10.7 in July, but better than the rate of 11.7 in August, 2011. The same trend is roughly the same for Josephine County where the latest rate in 12.1 percent. On the coast, the seasonally-adjusted rate stands at 10.8 for Coos County and 11.9 percent for Curry County.
Generally, private sector employment continues to grow, while the public sector sheds jobs. Where the private sector is gaining the jobs varies slightly from county to county.